Signal.



No. 827,752. PATBNTED AUG. v, 1905.

W. A. RICHARDSON.

SIGNAL.

APPLIOATIONFILBD APR. a. 1905. EBNEWBD DBO. 15, 1905.

,THE NoRRls PETERS ca., wAsmNaroN. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON, OF EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHAMELEON SIGNAL & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Aug. 7, 1906.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. RICHARD- sON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edwardsville, in the county of Madison and. State of Illinois, have invented certain' -sectional views indicated by the lines III III and IV IV, respectively, of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the post. Fig. 5 is a detail view, in front elevation, of a modified form of slotted wheel-plate, illustrating the clearanceopening for the semaphore-shield. Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sections on the lines VI VI and VII VII, respectively, of Fig. 1.

My invention refers to improvements in signals, more particularly that class of signals known as semaphore, wherein a semaphore arm or paddle -is pivotally mounted upon a suitable bearing at the upper portion of a post or other structure and provided with a spectacle-frame extending beyond the other side of the pivotal bearing provided with lights adapted to register with a lamp in positions corresponding with varying positions of the semaphore-blade.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon my previous patent, No. 761,787, dated June 7, 1904, wherein I show a triangular-shaped rotating signal, each face of which is preferably colored to suit the particular position which it will assume-for instance, red for danger, yellow for caution, and green for safety.

An objection to my former construction was that the signal was observable from the back as well as the front, and the present invention relates particularly to means for protecting or shielding the back portion of the signal from view, exposing only the flat front face to the approaching train.

The invention also includes various other features of improvement and details, as shall ble more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 represents the post or other structure upon which the signal apparatus is mounted., the post being provided witha lamp, preferably mounted upon its top or elsewhere, so as to register with the spectacle-lights, as will be readily understood.

3 is a supporting-bracket mounted upon the side of the post by bolts or in any suitable manner, upon which, by a bolt 4, is pivotally mounted the carrier 5, having a backwardlyextending bearing 6. The bolt 4 extends through the base of bearing 6, so that its head will be located in the front recess thereof beneath the main surface of the front plate constituting the carrier and will provide clearanpe for the rotating shaft carrying the signa At each side of the pivotal bearing of the carrier it is provided with journal-bearings 7, in which are rotatably mounted bushings 8, within which is carried the shaft 9, constituting the central stem member of the rotating signal. The bushings 8 are so arranged as to provide for easy movement and embrace between them a surrounding protecting-pipe 10, which envelops the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2, 'while at the outer end of the shaft it is provided with a disk-shaped terminal 11, bearing against an outer retaining cap or disk 12, by which end movement is prevented. As thus mounted the shaft 9, as will be seen, is in axial alinement with the center of the carrier 5, thus securing a very compact neat construction, while projecting outwardly beyond the outer bearing 7 is the spectacle-frame 13, carrying the red, yellow, and green lights adapted to be located in front of the lamp at the varying positions of the signal, as has been stated.

14 is a toothed wheel secured upon shaft 8 and incorporated with the triangular signal l 5 in such a manner that these parts are practically rigid, said 'wheel being provided with a series of teeth adapted to enter into a series of rack holes or openings 16. These rackopenings are arranged in the form of an arc, occupying approximately ninety degrees, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and are formed in the peripheral portion of a frame 17 rigidly IOO `sfyiuredto the post.. As shown in Fig. 2, the

frame 17 is made integral with the pivotal bearing 8, and such construction may be adopted with good results; or, if preferred, a separate frame 17 as shown in Fig. 5, may be used, clearance being provided for the pivotal location of an independent bearing for bolt 1.

For the purpose of covering or obscuring the back faces of the signal I employ a shield 18, of light sheet metal or other suitable material, secured at its inner end to the back portion of the swinging frame 5 and at its outer end to the outer terminal of shaft 9, thus providing an outer bearing for said shaft.

As shown in Fig. 2, the shield 18 is bent' abruptly inwardly in its upper position and passes through an arc-shaped opening 19 in frame 17, thereby providing clearance for the shield, so that it may occupy the space behind the series of rack-openings 16 at all times, thus providing for operative engagement therewith of the toothed wheel 14.

As thus constructed the device will operate in generally the same manner as shown and described in my prior patent, the signal being rotated one-third of a revolution for each period of movement, thus bringing the appropriate colored face squarely in view for each position. I have not shown any particular means for actuating the signal, and any approved mechanism for that purpose may be adopted.

The design or form of the invention or its parts may be changed or varied within the province of the skilled mechanic without varying from the invention, and all such changes are to be considered as Within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what yI claim is- 1. The combination with a verticallyswinging rotating signal, of a shield arranged to cover the signal at one side, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination With a verticallyswinging rotating signal, of a shield incorporated With thesignal-'carrying frame adaptsar/,75a

ed to swing with it, and to continuously obscure-the signal at one side, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a segmental rack provided with a clearance-opening, of a ivotally-mounted rotatable signal provide with a toothed wheel and a shield incorporated therewith and extending through said clearance-opening, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a pivotal bearing, of a carrier having a projecting bearing pivotally attached thereto and provided with a longitudinally-mounted rotatable shaft `carrying a triangular signal and provided with a toothed wheel, with an arch-shaped rack arranged to engage said Wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a pivotal bearing, of a carrier having a projecting bearing pivotally attached thereto and provided with a longitudinally-mounted rotatable shaft carrying a triangular signal and provided with a toothed wheel, with an arc-shaped rack arranged to engage said Wheel provided with a clearance -opening, and a signal-shield secured to said carrier and projecting through said clearance-opening, substantially as set forth.

6. rIhe combination with a swinging rotating signal., of a shield arranged to swing with the signal and to cover it at one side, substantially as set forth.

7. In a swinging rotating signal, the combination of a pivoted frame, a movable signal rotatably mounted in said frame, afliXed segment, gearing incorporated with the signal adapted to make engagement with said segment, and a shield attached to the pivoted frame and adapted to cover one side of the signal at varying positions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON. Witnesses: A

GEORGE D. BURRoUGi-is. W. M. WARNOCK. 

